Gun-bearing.



No. 725,503. PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

J. STRAUSSQV GUN BEARING. APPLIOATION FILED FEB.19, 1903.

'NO MODEL.

ATENT rrtcs.

JOSEPH STRAUSS, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

GUN-BEARlNG.

srncnrrcnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,503, dated April 14', 1903. Application filed February 19. 1903. Serial Ilt. 144,127. the model.)

To (z-ZZ whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STRAUSS, of the United States Navy, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gun-Bearings; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a gun and its mount embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section, on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. The object of my invention is to provide a gun-bearing having all required capacity for withstanding the shocks and strains of recoil and yet offering a minimum of resistance from friction to the turning of the gun in elevat: ing or depressing it; and to such end my invention consists in the bearing constructed substantially as hereinafter specified.

' In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings there is a gun A, having on each side an ordinary trunnion B and a mount O, having for the trunnion an ordinary bearing comprising the seat portion D and the cap E. Formed on or attached to the trunnion in any preferred way and project ing from the face thereof is a lug F,that forms a supplemental smaller trunnion, whose axis is concentric with that of the trunnion B. Said supplemental'trunuion bears upon a block or table G, which rests upon halls, preferably two in number, which, are supported by a bracket on the mount C. The table G is given such position vertically that p the trunnion Bis supported out of contact with its seat D, and as said table is free to move horizontally when power is applied to it by the turning or rolling of the supplemental trunnion F thereon and as said table rests upon the balls H it will be apparent that there will be no sliding friction, but wholly rolling friction, in the moving of the guu'to elevate or depress it. The clearance ordinarily left between the usual trunnions and their bearings is sufficient to permit the complete separation of their respective surfaces. The surfaces which the balls engage may be flat or plane; but as I preferably form them they are concave in a direction transverse or crosswise otthe gun, the curvature of each surface being on aradius greater than the radius of the ball, so that the ball will have contact with each surface only ata p oint. By the employment of the concave surfaces the balls naturally tend or gravitate to proper bearing position, and they cannot be expelled 'or displaced from position as a result of such sidewise movementof the gun as might take place, for the concave surfaces overhang or extend over the sides of the balls. gun the grooves which are produced by the concavities are closed, so that accidental escape of the balls in this direction is prevented. Balls, especially in contradistinction to rollers, are particularly advantageous in a gunbearing because of the ease with whichthey can be retained in place, but specially be cause no derangement of their position can occur, such as is possible with rollers, which would result in jamming or binding the gunbearing.

The ball-supporting bracket can be given any desired construction; but I prefer that illustrated, which consists of a plate I, having at opposite sides cars by which it may be fastened by bolts J to the side of the trun. nion-seat D and chambered for the reception of a block K,wl1ich forms the immediate bearing or support for the balls, and rests at its lower end upon the upper end of an adjustingscrew L. The sides of the plate are extended on opposite sides of the table G to overlap the latter, but without having contact therewith, merely as a means to restrain the accidental displacement ot said table. This form of bracket is valuable, since it permits the" application of my invention to guns'already made, no special structure of the mount being necessary for its adaptation.

Should it be found desirable, as when firing at high angles, to cushion the gun, the block K can rest on a yielding support.

The supplemental trunnion F may be in .the form of a cylindrical block, or it can have the form shown,where it has acurved tableengaging surface that has only such angular extent as is necessaryfor the designed angular motion of the gun, and the radius of the curved surface is preferably sucttin relation to-the number of degrees through-which the gun may be elevated as not to produce avery In the direction lengthwise the the form of a piece separate from the main trnnnion and having a'screW-sh'ank. by which it is attached to the latter.

guns already made. mental trunnion may of diameter.

The gun in wholly by the their bearings, so that the movement'of the gun can be most easily accomplished; but

when the gun is fired the shock of recoil will be sustained by the main trunnions and the mount, the latter trunn-ions upon rec'oil beseats in the mount.-

ing brought against their Although I have illustrated and described certain details of construction as characterizing the embodiment of myinvention which I have selected for illustration, it is to be un-- derstood that unless the claims herein specify the particulars of construction they are not to be limited thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim --is 1. A gun-bearing, comprising a trunnion, a movable bearing-piece adapted to be moved by the revolution of the trunnion, rollingsupports for said piece consisting of ba'lls, and means to support the gun under-the shock of recoil.

2. A gunbearing, comprising a trunnion, amovable bearing-piece on which the trunnion rests, balls on which said bearing-piece rests, a relatively movable surface on which said balls bear, and means to support the gun under the shock of recoil.

3. The combination of a gun-trunnion, its

seat, an extension ofthe trunnion having a rounded surface-,- ata'ble engaged bysuch sur- S'iicha construe-j tion is useful in adapting my invention to If desired, the-su'ppl'ebe simply an extension of the ordinary trunnion Without any change being elevated is' supported supplemental trnnnionsiand.

tached to the side of the p 4'.- A gun-bearing, comprising a trunnion, a'movable bearing-piece adapted to be moved by the revolution of the trunnion, rolling sup- ;ports for said piece consisting of balls,. the

surface of said piece next the balls being grooved, and means to support the ghd under the shock of recoil.

' 5. A gun-bearing, comprising a trunnion,

a movable bearing-piece on which the trun- 'nio'n rests, balls on having grooves that extend lengthwise of the gun, and means to support the gun under the shock of recoil.

-6. The combination of a gun-trunuiornjts seat, a movable bearingpiece adapted to'be moved by the revolution of the trunnion, rolling supports for said piece, and a bracket attrunnion-seat for supporting the rolling-supports.

7. A gun, comprising-a trunnion, a movable bearing-piece adapted to be moved by the revolution of the trunnion, rolling supports for said piece, a block on rest, a chambered bracket for said block, and an adjustable support for the block.

8. A gun, com prisinga trunnion, a movable bearing-piece adapted to be moved by the revolution of the trunnion, rolling supports for said piece, a block on which thesnpports rest, a chambered bracket for the block, having surfaces that project a ongside of said movable bearing-piece.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

. JOSEPH STRAUSS-.7 Witnesses:

'W. E. WRIGHT, EDWIN J. PRINDLE.

which said bearing-piece rest-s, a bracket supporting the balls, the ball-, engaging surfaces of the piece and bracket which the supports 

